The Happiness Available Now

I know Heavenly Father loves me. And that is enough. Our area is starting
to improve, and I am just relishing new possibilities, hope for
miracles, sincere prayer, daily tender mercies, new experiences, the
happiness available NOW, the progress that is to be made, and the divine
help that is ALWAYS there.
"May the real meaning of the gospel distill into our hearts that we may
realize that our lives, given to us by God the Father, are to be used inthe service of others." _Gordon B. Hinckley
-- 
*Sister Dopp*

Love is Enough

Hello all friends and family! January has been an amazing month, and seems
to be flying by! One miracle this week was that we called an 80 year old
former investigator one night, and she scheduled the next day. We don't
know why we were prompted to call some people that night, but she scheduled
and we were excited to meet her. When we got to her home, she was
entertaining her son and his wife and two children. They were visiting from
Australia. The son's father moved to Mongolia after they were married, and
stayed in Mongolia and got remarried there and never returned. (When the
daughter was explaining this whole story, she said that that was a pretty
common thing to do at the time) So, they just found out about the grandma a
few years ago! Even though she is not their blood-relative, they now visit
her and call her grandma. The children aren't fluent in Cantonese, so we
taught them in English. They were so kind and open to our message! We
taught the Restoration. It was the first time I've taught a full
Restoration lesson in English, and it was kind of strange. I prefer
Cantonese! But the lesson was such a neat experience. I know that it is
true.
Yesterday, the bishop's wife gave a talk on Joseph Smith. She talked about
each year of his life, beginning at fourteen, when he saw Heavenly Father
and Jesus Christ, until his martyr at thirty-eight. He accomplished so much
in his life! It was so apparent how much Heavenly Father was directing his
life, and the work of the Church. The bishop also invited us to his home
for Family Home Evening, and we all shared our testimonies of Joseph Smith.
They have such strong testimonies of him and his divine calling. It is so
neat to me to hear the testimonies of a prophet of our day in Cantonese.
The restored church began in the Eastern United States, and now, on the
other side of the world, it is being taught and people know it is true!
Also it testifies to me of the reality of the gift of tongues. I can
understand almost all of church now, and it is sometimes amazing when I
consider how much Heavenly Father is helping me. It is still a struggle,
and I doubt I will become fluent in the next year, but I can communicate
and share my testimony. And that's the most important thing!
I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. All the most precious things I have a
testimony of, are because of the Restoration. I know families can be
together forever, I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer, I know
Heavenly Father is my father in heaven. I know His plan, and I know what
Christ's doctrine includes, and how I can follow him.
We get to go to the temple this Thursday, and I am so grateful! Another
blessing from the Restoration.
I'm sorry if this email makes no sense. I love Hong Kong and trials. I know
Christ lives. I truly, truly do. My eyes are tearing up as I type. I know
for myself that his love is enough. It is always enough.

--
*Sister Dopp*

Lion's Rock

Each passing week makes these weekly emails even more difficult. These
experiences are so special, sacred, difficult, amazing, and miraculous!
They really cannot be described, and expressing myself is so difficult.
Especially in English!
But this week has been so awesome. Even though it is tough to find
investigators, I am learning hope and patience and faith. It is also
teaching me the worth of souls. Like the scripture says "The whole of souls
is great in the sight of God." I am grateful to dedicate so much time,
prayer, and study to our little pool of investigators, as well as our
amazing Pok Fu Lam ward! The members here really inspire me, and they are
so willing to go above and beyond their callings. The deaf members
especially inspire me. It is neat to see Cantonese sign language every
week.
Today we hiked Lion's Rock and the view was breathtaking! Even though it
was a bit foggy, the skyscrapers, roads, large malls, and parks were
visible in all their glory! I am so happy I live in Hong Kong!!! Walking up
the mountain was so fun, every person we saw we'd say "Jou San!" (good
morning) and they would be so surprised and say we were so smart and clever
and "leng leiuh" (pretty girl) haha they are so kind and so encouraging of
our Cantonese! Even if they just hear us say one thing
We met a man in Cyberport this week that has been to Utah a few times for
business, and who has a daughter who may go to the school my companion went
to in Florida! There were so many coincidences and we talked for awhile.
Yesterday, in line for the bus we saw him again and he introduced us to his
wife and daughter! Gam kiu! (What a coincidence!) He is not religious, but
he says the saying from Islam, "Inshallah," "God willing." He was so kind
and we hope we can begin teaching them! I am grateful I could learn from
one of his sayings, which he adopted because of an open mind and acceptance
of others' beliefs. That is something I admire about people here. They are
usually very open to others' beliefs, and have very open minds. But I am
also thankful that we all have ONE eternal truth. Truth exists and we can
find it!
This week Psalm 46:1 has become very real to me. God IS a "our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble." (I'm not sure I quoted that
exactly right) But I know that Heavenly Father is really so very present in
our lives. Whenever I feel tired or nervous or overwhelmed or not enough, I
look forward to being able to end the day in prayer. To gain strength from
God and ponder about how much He loves me and how I can serve Him better.
It gives me the hope to keep going, the courage to talk to someone, the
love and motivation to share my testimony.
I have seen miracles on my mission. Not the kind of miracles they share in
General Conference, or make the front pages of newspapers, or that I can
easily explain in one email. But miracles are simply extraordinary events
that change lives, and the ones I have seen in Hong Kong have changed mine.
I know Christ lives. I know Heavenly Father loves us. These plain and
precious truths I have learned since I was little are becoming more plain
and precious to me as I teach in simple Cantonese to Heavenly Father's
children.
I love you all and hope 2017 is.....
well, whatever you want it to be!!!
--
*Sister Dopp*

Retrospective Learning

This week was absolutely amazing. I have been thinking this week about

retrospective learning. On my mission, there are so many lessons I did not

learn in the midst of the trials, or right during the teaching,

mistake-making, or happy moments. It is days later, moments later, even

months later that they come full circle and I realize how much Heavenly

Father is orchestrating the details of my life. I am so thankful for this

pattern of learning, because my experiences have two-fold blessings and

lessons, and my progression is dynamic and meaningful and helps me have an

eternal perspective. Sure, sometimes it is frustrating because I am such an

impatient person and I want to learn, become, and know right NOW! But, He

knows how much I need to learn patience, and hope, and faith. Transfers

came and went with quite a few changes, but none in our apartment here in

West Point. I am staying in Pok Fu Lam, with Sister Gomez, and our

apartment mates are staying too. Our mission is unique in that it has 9

week transfers, but they are working to line them up so they will change to

6 week ones like the rest of the world. So they had to make this transfer

11 weeks, to coordinate with the MTC schedule and such. So I will be in my

area at least 7 months, and probably longer, because Sister Gomez has

already been here 8 months, and when she leaves, I'll lead the area. Pok Fu

Lam is an amazing place, and I'm grateful to serve here in an absolutely

amazing ward. Yesterday we went to a camp an hour from our church and it

was so fun! We did archery, pool, Squash ball, and had lunch together. It

was an awesome opportunity to get to know the members better and just have

fun with them! They really take care of their missionaries.

Yesterday was my favorite part of the week. We were doing some calls from

people who had given us their numbers with an interest in learning more,

and I scheduled a man two other missionaries had met a few months ago. We

taught him last night and it went so well. He lost his wife a few years

ago, and he was still really sad about it. He went through a really hard

time, but he said one of his friends said a prayer with him. After the

prayer he said he saw his wife in his mind, coming out of darkness and just

looking at him, then walking away. So he said he knows God lives because of

that experience. Then we were able to teach him the Plan of Salvation. It

was personally so meaningful to me that after hearing of his deeply sad and

difficult trial, we could tell him about God's truths and give him

specific, hopeful answers. When we told him he would see his wife again, I

could see a spark of faith and hope light up in him. He was so accepting of

the whole Plan of Salvation and he gave a very heartfelt prayer at the end

of the lesson. I know that we lived with God before this life, that Christ

helps us conquer sin and death and have joy, and that everyone will have

the opportunity to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, and someday we can

live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and our families again. I know

God's love is infinite and enough. It can answer the deepest questions of

the soul and help us get through any trial or heartache. How grateful I am

that we have all we need to prepare to return to our Heavenly Father's

presence and have happiness in this life as well.

Christ lives. I love my mission.

-- 

*Sister Dopp*

The Matchless Gift

What a week. I do not even have words. So much has happened. We taught
Tohng Ji Muih, an investigator from Mainland. She is incredibly kind and so
accepting of the gospel. We taught the Word of Wisdom this week and she
accepted it so quickly! Even though she is very used to drinking coffee and
tea, she said that it was probably not the healthiest because God knows us
better. She came into the lesson talking about some health problems she has
been having, and the Spirit was just so strong as we testified of blessings
that come from following the commandments. I am truly so grateful we have
such specific direction and help to receive specific and needed blessings.
She has a baptismal date for next month!!! And yesterday at the ward Family
Home Evening, she shared that her Christmas wish is to be healthy so that
she can attend church on Christmas next week! I love her so much and am
praying everything goes well and she can attend next week! 

Our recent convert Jeung Ji Muih is doing well. We taught the 10 commandments this
week and once again the spirit was so strong as we talked about ancient
prophets and how Heavenly Father's love is so unconditional.

Today for P day we went to "Lamma Island." It is off of my area, Auberdeen,
and was absolutely GORGEOUS. The boat ride there felt like a dream, the
walk to the beach felt like a Disneyland safari it was so picturesque, and the
beach was straight from a post card! We got special permission to go with
our whole zone, so Elders and Sisters could go together. It was so fun to
spend time as a zone, especially for Christmas.
This week I have really felt the love of the Savior. The other night I was
thinking about my family back home, the many ballet performances I did not
see or dance in, the traditions that will be missed this year, and the Utah
snow. Also the apartment things that needed cleaning, lessons coming up,
personal weakness I would like to work on, Cantonese grammar structures,
and helping the people we are teaching understand the gospel. 

And then I just felt peace. It was instantaneous, yet intensified as I sat there. The
peace came to my heart as I thought about the night the Savior was born.
People were traveling from afar, many grand signs had just taken place,
King Herod was considering sending a decree which would kill many young
children, and the inns surrounding that stable in Bethlehem were filled.
But for the small moment, Mary and Joseph held a child in their arms. They
knew that the Savior of the world had come. The One perfect soul had come
in all humility and love to change a world that was in commotion. To a
world of compassion, hope, and PEACE. It was indeed a holy night. And
because of that one night, two thousand years later, one night in Hong
Kong, an imperfect missionary felt the peace of a perfect Savior. And many
billions of other moments, that peace is felt. And I know we can all feel
that. The Savior is there for each one of us, in a very personal way.
The people before his birth had faith in him. Even faith enough to follow a
small light in a huge sky. One star led them to the Savior of the world.
And I testify that one spark of faith can lead us to him as well. And when
we arrive at that place, that we can say for ourselves that He lives, I
hope we can share that with others. I cannot express my thoughts adequately
about the Savior, but I know He lives. And basically everything else can be
encompassed in that.
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!
--
*Sister Dopp*

Light the World

Sometimes it hits me that I cannot do everything and that the distance
between perfection and me is equivalent to the distance between Hong Kong
and Utah. And that I single-handledly cannot convert all of Hong Kong
Island or introduce Pok Fu Lam to the gospel in one transfer. And it is
joyful and humbling when these moments occur because then Heavenly Father
helps me realize what matters most. It is not what I cannot do. It is what
I can do with the Lord's help. I can have direct communication with God. A
much faster communication that even my communication with my family in
Utah. The commercialness and materialism of Hong Kong contracts distinctly
with the precious knowledge of the gospel that I hold in my heart. It is
like comparing emails to prayer. They are both communication and get the
job done. One is happy and quite efficient and a little convenient. But one
is life-changing, constant, always two-way, and powerful. One depends the
world-wide web, and the other depends on the Creator of the universe. One
goes through Wi-fi, the other goes through the Savior of the world. These
seem obvious and too simple, but it is sometimes how I feel when people
fail to accept the gospel. I guess what I am trying to describe is that
nothing can compare to the knowledge of the gospel. The perspective the
gospel gives is priceless. There is simply nothing better.
We had a pretty busy week this week and hopefully this week will be even
busier! We had zone training on preparation and it was so amazing! We
really focused on how missionaries can "prepare every needful thing" and be
two steps ahead so we can have the Lord's promised blessings and be
prepared whenever our testimonies or help are needed. The Elders ended with
"It all began with a plan in heaven. Heavenly Father understands the
importance of planning." It was just really powerful and helped me see the
bigger picture and connect it to Christ.
We also did exchanges and I got to teach with Sister Yost, from California.
She almost had to go home for a medical surgery, but she is sticking it out
for 2 more transfers and she is honestly such an amazing missionary. She
has taught me so much. We taught Kelly together and it went so well. Even
though Kelly isn't ready to get baptized yet, and can hardly say a prayer,
I am thankful we can introduce her to the gospel and teach these lessons to
someone who needs them so much and has never heard them.
Yesterday we had dinner at a member's and it was so happy. It just felt
like a home away from home. I am so thankful the ward members and this
family in particular are so welcoming and loving. The food was also really
good :)
I hope everyone continues to do the 25 Days Christmas challenge! It is so
powerful! Let's LIGHT THE WORLD!

--
*Sister Dopp*

Faith Gives Sight to the Blind

This week has been a week of humbling, stretching, and illumination. I have never been so aware of my weaknesses as I am now, which helps me use Jesus Christ's atonement and further realize how his grace works in my life. I know when we do our best: keep the commandments, remember him, and be kind; his grace will make up the rest. His grace is everything-we do everything through him. And when we fall short, he has already made it possible to still have success and keep going.

We had 4 investigators at church yesterday! We also attended the Auberdeens' baptismal service. A mother and daughter, and another old man got baptized. I am thankful for the greater understanding I have of the doctrine of Christ: faith, repentance, baptism, and enduring to the end. 

I taught a lesson with my MTC buddy, Sister Magleby while our companions were planning a Zone Training. We taught in a member's home in North Point. The member couple was so amazing. Honestly, their faith inspired me so much. The husband is blind and a little hard of hearing. But he has so much faith, and his testimony of the Savior was touching. The wife is so charitable. While she was sharing about faith, she said that her husband has never seen her face before. But they have a happy marriage and he trusts her to guide him and live a sightless life. A lot of people think that faith is blind. But I found out for myself, in a tiny apartment in Hong Kong China, that faith gives sight to the blind. It gives more than sight. The Savior healed the blind two thousand years ago, and today he heals our spiritual blindness, helps us have hope in things not seen, and helps us keep going. We can all be healed and forgiven, according to our faith. And I testify that if we think our faith is weak, we can ask him, "help thou my unbelief" (Mark 9:24) and he will. Our weaknesses can be made strong. Our mustard seed of faith can turn into a mighty tree. And I know that that mighty tree can bring forth fruit, even "fruit meet for repentance." (Matthew 3:8). When we have faith in Christ, we have a desire to follow him and ACT. I am so excited about the church Christmas initiative and theme: Light the World. The 25 ways to Light the World invitation is truly worthwhile and I know it will help us focus on Christ this Christmas season. here is the link for everyone to find it and start participating: https://www.lds.org/blog/25-ways-to-lighttheworld-this-christmas?cid=HP_TH_1-12-2016_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL2-2_

Today is "Jesus healed the sick and so can you." Each day has ideas for how we can cultivate a Christ-like attribute or action. I invite you, yes you! to do this!

Jeung Ji muih is doing well! She got a job and doesn't need to work on Sunday! A small miracle for HK. We have Zone Training tomorrow and I'm sharing about how preparing for lessons during my hour of Personal Study has blessed me and helped me be more prepared to share and explain the gospel. I love Hong Kong and missions! We are so blessed to share "glad tidings of great joy" every single day.

Love you all!

--

Sister Dopp